Diet

5 Sneaky Ways Alcohol Affects Your Health and Beauty (and How to Prevent Them)

We're conditioned to think it's glamorous, but when it comes to your health and looks, drinking's insidious side effects are anything but

by Audrey Fine

2 of 8

Alcohol worsens skin issues Drinking alcohol is one of the main culprits of rosacea -- a confounding skin condition that causes redness -- and often pustules on the cheeks and nose. A whopping 52 percent of 1,066 patients surveyed by the National Rosacea Society cited alcohol consumption as the primary trigger for a surge in their condition.

And, it's not just people with the disorder who run the risk of unwanted, permanent redness. Alcohol not only increases blood flow and dilates the tiny blood vessels that are closest to the outer layer of your skin, it sometimes does it in such volume that they burst, causing unsightly, enduring "broken" capillaries on the face.

(Note: Psoriasis sufferers need to be particularly careful when it comes to downing more than a few cocktails. Forty percent of those affected by the condition drink too much.)

Next: Why drinking makes you puffy all over

SEE NEXT PAGE: Alcohol causes bloating

EDITORS' BEST OF

12 Best Acne Products for Your Clearest Skin Yet

11 Best Tinted Moisturizers for Easy, On-the-Go Coverage

products mentioned

Kiehl's Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer

0.0

Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer Dewy Finish

5.0

Clarins Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturizer SPF6

8.5

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush

9.3

BUY NOW

CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm

8.1

leave a comment

Older comments

Nice info.

by Mollysunshine Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 02:12AM Report as inappropriate

Interesting

by kc99012 Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 05:33AM Report as inappropriate

Didn't realize how bad alcohol was for your body...even if it is just a drink every now and then.

by MizzPink Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 12:06PM Report as inappropriate

I'm glad I drink alcohol rarely. I have never been drunk before! :D

by MandyBoo Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 11:15AM Report as inappropriate

Just another reason to stop drinking.....

by Hcaddy15 Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 09:32AM Report as inappropriate

interesting article.

by lazorc Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 07:16PM Report as inappropriate

This was a great article. I'm so glad that I choose not to drink.

by taryn.romero Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 08:17AM Report as inappropriate

This article is really a wake-up call for me. I'm in college and surrounded by so much alcohol, but this article will definitely make me think twice about what and how much I'm drinking on the weekends. I definitely do not want to age earlier than necessary!

by vfalkow Friday, September 2, 2011 at 02:11PM Report as inappropriate

I love that this article shows the dangers of alcohol! In many of my biology and psychology classes we learn a ton about drugs, especially caffeine and alcohol, and so its nice to see people getting serious about alcohol like everyone already is with smoking and other drugs. Thank you for the article!

by Steph53 Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 09:48AM Report as inappropriate

Complete, nothing more, nothing less. Alcohol is toxic. So, if we're so concerned with the nature pollution, why should we take the pollution inside? If we consider also the fact that alcohol is directly linked with the breast cancer...

by kariro Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 05:55AM Report as inappropriate